1. For whom are the homes as if they were never inhabited
At the ridge of a withering southern mountain —Stop, O wild ass!

2. Their landmarks have been effaced yet the outline remains
Like the title of an obliterated book

3. A home of Sa'd when Sa'd is as though it is
A soft, supple branch of tender joints

4. Clear-faced Shama'a, a child
Like the full moon through a breaking cloud

5. As if the fragrance of narcissus had scattered it
Or gentleness had mingled the aromas of perfume

6. She meets you with her charm and coquetry
And tires you with the secrets of an enervating meadow

7. Her mouth after the vicissitudes of fate is as a cup
Clinking with limpid wine

8. If she had displayed herself to an ascetic monk
At the summit of a crumbling hill devoted to prayer

9. He would be reading the hours of sleep to his Lord
Until his flesh wasted, not desisting

10. He would give up virtue for her charm and eloquence
And covet her bell in his decline

11. Nay, if you were to see a grisly hag clanging my bowl
And scraping my jug as she climbed up my stair

12. And I crept along feebly as though I were a decrepit
Hunter stalking his prey in stealth

13. Then I would see the charm of the hag in her straightness
Like the smoothness of a spearhead polished clean

14. Days gone by when even iron goes to ruin
The sheaths receive my blade inserted again and again

15. And I have witnessed horses on the day of their race
At Suleim or Zifa, their legs like pillars

16. Tossing about the foam of plunging steeds, ardour of running
Rivalry of the stallions of ’Umaythal

17. If I did not hold him back when he ran
The rival would pound him with the hammer of death

18. When love drove him I saw him plunge
With his rider, plunge of a swift falcon

19. When our steeds were goaded with whips, our winners
Gave you their reward without being goaded

20. So leave off challenging me — I was the first challenger
And on what shall I ride if I do not accept the challenge?

21. I have amassed wealth by the valour of a man
And held myself above the baseness of food

22. I have entered the palaces of kings over them
Yet the worst thing a man can do is what he has not done

23. And I witnessed the battle of pillars around which
Sons of Persia fought, their faces like plaited helmets

24. Clad in linked coats of mail as though they are
Locusts outfitted for a neglected fight

25. They drag along a rapid coach wherein
Are the scrolls of those they war against and kill

26. So I remained, an eager prisoner, patient
My soul hopeful of the detailed reward of my Lord

27. By the Lord of burning rancour against me, as though
His heart's hatred boils like a cauldron

28. I turned it from me so he saw his aim
And bent it above the eyes of the exalted

29. My brother did not heed his punisher
And obeyed his pleasure, a wrongful dissolver

30. Gentle, he turned to pleasure, I woke him
When the dawn was radiant and had not yet gone

31. So I went into a tavern with him and in the morning
Made him drink from the embrace of a lethal cup

32. A golden blonde, pure of nastiness, I squandered my ease upon her
Generous like the noble-spirited camel, not miserly

33. And a new bride I added to my harem, married her
After another before her in the house

34. Indeed I experienced the softness of life
And time struck me with decay

35. A mare I sent into the darkness complaining
To me of exhaustion, perpetual gloom

36. She roamed a month the regions of a remote
Deserted plain, accustomed place

37. A path as though the tillage of Nabit were its sand dunes
Shores of the valley like a rough mat

38. I readied her perfectly and she flowed heavily
Like a he-goat in the stink of his shaggy coat

39. Yet now it is as if it never was
Save that I remember one who does not forget

40. A hundred years have come upon me; I count them
Year by year. Whoever reaches old age declines

41. So youth is like a grant I have wasted
And time makes rags of every robe wasted

42. Why not ask — and the best of people have —
And healing for your sickness in asking is to ask

43. Do we honour guests if they visit us
And treat kindly without being base?

44. Do we smile with teeth frightening to a foe
And return the glance of a cocky squinter?

45. Do we aid our debtor and protect our neighbour
And adorn our friend with praise in the assembly?

46. When a man of us commits a crime it is as if
He fears his shoulders will wither

47. And when our orators stand to speak amid the tribal assembly
They arbitrate between the tribe and dispense justice

48. And the enemy regards them with awe, impenetrable
In the stars' ambiguous courses

49. When the burdens weigh down their bearers
It is on our camels, heavy-laden, they are loaded

50. In our wealth an ally has the right
Even if he does not request it